Today's Devotional: The Upper Room Daily Devotion "More Than A Sandwich" for Tuesday, 14 April 2015 - Scripture: James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone claims to have faith but has no actions to prove it? Is such “faith” able to save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food, 16 and someone says to him, “Shalom! Keep warm and eat hearty!” without giving him what he needs, what good does it do? 17 Thus, faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead.
18 But someone will say that you have faith and I have actions. Show me this faith of yours without the actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions!
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?[James 2:15-16 (NIV)]
When I was 25 years old, I decided to travel to Ireland for a little adventure. I met some other young adults in a hostel, and one night three of us were walking down a street in Dublin when a disheveled-looking man and woman approached us asking for money to buy food. Despite the objections of one of our party, we gave them the equivalent of $5.00. As the couple walked away, the person who had objected told us that he suspected they would use the money for drugs or alcohol. He then announced that he was going to follow them to prove it!
Somewhat unwillingly, my other companion and I went along. We followed the couple across the River Liffey down a street where raucous laughter filled the air as people drifted in and out of the many pubs. Just as my friend began to say, “I told you so,” the couple appeared coming out of a convenience store with two sandwiches. In silence, we all looked at one another and realized that the sandwiches weren’t the most important gifts given that day. The gift we had received was a reminder that we are not called to judge human hearts. We are simply called to emulate Jesus by responding with compassion to the human needs we encounter.
The Author: Wade Griffith (Alabama, USA)
Thought for the Day: God calls us to show compassion, not judgment.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to be like you by responding to human needs with compassion rather than judgment. Amen.
Prayer focus: Young Adults Who Are Traveling
Today's Devotional: The Upper Room Daily Devotion "The Prodigal Daughter" for Wednesday, 15 April 2015 - Scripture: Luke 15:11 Again Yeshua said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will be mine.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he squandered his money in reckless living. 14 But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch.
15 “So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 “At last he came to his senses and said, ‘Any number of my father’s hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I’m going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and started back to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son — ’ 22 but his father said to his slaves, ‘Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let’s eat and have a celebration! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!’ And they began celebrating.
The father said, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”[Luke 15:24 (NRSV)]
I hit the road with everything I owned packed inside my small car even though the idea of leaving my apartment, job, school, friends, and my comfortable life of sin had paralyzed me. The drive home seemed like a lifetime; I dreaded returning to face my mom. Fearful thoughts also filled my mind. How could God ever forgive my poor choices? How could I cope without my destructive, self-made support system? All I could do was muster up a tiny seed of hope that my life was not over.
When I entered my mother’s house, I found my bedroom decorated with a bright new bed cover and cheery new curtains. My mom came in and sat down beside me. She was all hugs and smiles, ecstatic that her baby girl was home. I didn’t realize it at the time, but God used the simple act of my mom sprucing up the bedroom to show me a glimpse of love and grace. And little did I know that the next few years would be filled with new friends, a college degree, a wedding, and opportunities to mentor teenagers.
Looking back to that long drive home I never would have guessed that God would be so lavish in pouring out love on me, especially knowing it was nothing that I deserved or earned. God longs to lavish love on each of us. Knowing this, we can muster up a tiny seed of hope today that life is not over. With God, it is just beginning.
The Author: Natalie Guarascio (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: God has a parent’s heart toward his children.
Prayer: Dear God, take our tiny seeds of hope that you can change our lives, and show us your love and grace that await us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Parents Of Young Adults Returning Home
Today's Devotional: The Upper Room Daily Devotion "Focus on Jesus" for Thursday, 16 April 2015 - Scripture: Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! 6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. 9 Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.
Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.[Philippians 4:6 (CEB)]
For 14 years I worked in a sporting goods store in Anchorage, Alaska. One day as I was coming from the warehouse to deliver a few items to the store, an irate customer met me when I walked through the store entrance. She was livid and began a tirade of complaints about a previous purchase. As I listened to her, I noticed that she was wearing a T-shirt with “Focus on Jesus” written on the front. I thought to myself: Lady, you are one big hypocrite. The Holy Spirit immediately brought me up short saying, “Are you going to lose your focus on Jesus, too?”
With a sigh, I admitted that my focus was more than a little blurry. I began to pray silently for the woman. Before I knew it, I felt God’s peace and she regained her composure. She left as a satisfied customer, and I enjoyed God’s peace in a way I never had before.
Philippians 4:6 comes to mind more and more as I seek to maintain my focus on Jesus: “Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.”
The Author: Phil Cages (Alaska, USA)
Thought for the Day: Peace is only a prayer away.
Prayer: We thank you, dear God, for peace that you give in the midst of troubling moments. Help us call to you at such times so that we can be a channel of your love and understanding. Amen.
Prayer focus: Christians In The Marketplace
18 But someone will say that you have faith and I have actions. Show me this faith of yours without the actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions!
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?[James 2:15-16 (NIV)]
When I was 25 years old, I decided to travel to Ireland for a little adventure. I met some other young adults in a hostel, and one night three of us were walking down a street in Dublin when a disheveled-looking man and woman approached us asking for money to buy food. Despite the objections of one of our party, we gave them the equivalent of $5.00. As the couple walked away, the person who had objected told us that he suspected they would use the money for drugs or alcohol. He then announced that he was going to follow them to prove it!
Somewhat unwillingly, my other companion and I went along. We followed the couple across the River Liffey down a street where raucous laughter filled the air as people drifted in and out of the many pubs. Just as my friend began to say, “I told you so,” the couple appeared coming out of a convenience store with two sandwiches. In silence, we all looked at one another and realized that the sandwiches weren’t the most important gifts given that day. The gift we had received was a reminder that we are not called to judge human hearts. We are simply called to emulate Jesus by responding with compassion to the human needs we encounter.
The Author: Wade Griffith (Alabama, USA)
Thought for the Day: God calls us to show compassion, not judgment.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, help us to be like you by responding to human needs with compassion rather than judgment. Amen.
Prayer focus: Young Adults Who Are Traveling
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Today's Devotional: The Upper Room Daily Devotion "The Prodigal Daughter" for Wednesday, 15 April 2015 - Scripture: Luke 15:11 Again Yeshua said, “A man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that will be mine.’ So the father divided the property between them. 13 As soon as he could convert his share into cash, the younger son left home and went off to a distant country, where he squandered his money in reckless living. 14 But after he had spent it all, a severe famine arose throughout that country, and he began to feel the pinch.15 “So he went and attached himself to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him any.
17 “At last he came to his senses and said, ‘Any number of my father’s hired workers have food to spare; and here I am, starving to death! 18 I’m going to get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and started back to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him warmly. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son — ’ 22 but his father said to his slaves, ‘Quick, bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him; and put a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet; 23 and bring the calf that has been fattened up, and kill it. Let’s eat and have a celebration! 24 For this son of mine was dead, but now he’s alive again! He was lost, but now he has been found!’ And they began celebrating.
The father said, “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!”[Luke 15:24 (NRSV)]
I hit the road with everything I owned packed inside my small car even though the idea of leaving my apartment, job, school, friends, and my comfortable life of sin had paralyzed me. The drive home seemed like a lifetime; I dreaded returning to face my mom. Fearful thoughts also filled my mind. How could God ever forgive my poor choices? How could I cope without my destructive, self-made support system? All I could do was muster up a tiny seed of hope that my life was not over.
When I entered my mother’s house, I found my bedroom decorated with a bright new bed cover and cheery new curtains. My mom came in and sat down beside me. She was all hugs and smiles, ecstatic that her baby girl was home. I didn’t realize it at the time, but God used the simple act of my mom sprucing up the bedroom to show me a glimpse of love and grace. And little did I know that the next few years would be filled with new friends, a college degree, a wedding, and opportunities to mentor teenagers.
Looking back to that long drive home I never would have guessed that God would be so lavish in pouring out love on me, especially knowing it was nothing that I deserved or earned. God longs to lavish love on each of us. Knowing this, we can muster up a tiny seed of hope today that life is not over. With God, it is just beginning.
The Author: Natalie Guarascio (California, USA)
Thought for the Day: God has a parent’s heart toward his children.
Prayer: Dear God, take our tiny seeds of hope that you can change our lives, and show us your love and grace that await us. Amen.
Prayer focus: Parents Of Young Adults Returning Home
____________________
Today's Devotional: The Upper Room Daily Devotion "Focus on Jesus" for Thursday, 16 April 2015 - Scripture: Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in union with the Lord always! I will say it again: rejoice! 5 Let everyone see how reasonable and gentle you are. The Lord is near! 6 Don’t worry about anything; on the contrary, make your requests known to God by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving. 7 Then God’s shalom, passing all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 8 In conclusion, brothers, focus your thoughts on what is true, noble, righteous, pure, lovable or admirable, on some virtue or on something praiseworthy. 9 Keep doing what you have learned and received from me, what you have heard and seen me doing; then the God who gives shalom will be with you.Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.[Philippians 4:6 (CEB)]
For 14 years I worked in a sporting goods store in Anchorage, Alaska. One day as I was coming from the warehouse to deliver a few items to the store, an irate customer met me when I walked through the store entrance. She was livid and began a tirade of complaints about a previous purchase. As I listened to her, I noticed that she was wearing a T-shirt with “Focus on Jesus” written on the front. I thought to myself: Lady, you are one big hypocrite. The Holy Spirit immediately brought me up short saying, “Are you going to lose your focus on Jesus, too?”
With a sigh, I admitted that my focus was more than a little blurry. I began to pray silently for the woman. Before I knew it, I felt God’s peace and she regained her composure. She left as a satisfied customer, and I enjoyed God’s peace in a way I never had before.
Philippians 4:6 comes to mind more and more as I seek to maintain my focus on Jesus: “Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.”
The Author: Phil Cages (Alaska, USA)
Thought for the Day: Peace is only a prayer away.
Prayer: We thank you, dear God, for peace that you give in the midst of troubling moments. Help us call to you at such times so that we can be a channel of your love and understanding. Amen.
Prayer focus: Christians In The Marketplace
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